Agriculture

The Wee Waa District is a major producer of a variety of agricultural commodities including cotton, wheat, beef cattle and sheep. These industries demand much support in terms of supplies, equipment, expert advice and labour provision. The interdependent relationships between farmers, graziers and business organizations provides the economic basis upon which the Wee Waa Community thrives.

Agriculture News

By Jamieson Murphy Nov. 25, 2015, 9:30 p.m. - Northern Daily Leader

A NARRABRI anti-coal seam gas group is taking the energy giant Santos and the state government to court over the approval of the Leewood wastewater treatment plant in the Pilliga forest.

People for the Plains will argue the approval given to the CSG wastewater treatment plant last week is invalid.

CSG explorations works are exempt from requiring development consent under NSW planning law, but the group will argue the plant is not for the purpose of CSG exploration and required separate development consent.

They will be represented in the NSW Land and Environment Court by the NSW Environmental Defenders Office (EDO).

Principal solicitor of EDO NSW, Sue Higginson, said the case is about ensuring proper laws and development assessment processes are followed in approving such development.

Media Release - 5 November

Farmers and fishers across the country are set to receive a boost, with $2.2 million in small grants announced to increase industry capacity and support the adoption of productive management practices.

Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, Barnaby Joyce, today said that these small grants would contribute to the overall resilience, competitiveness and productivity of Australia's agriculture and fishing industries.

RIRDC Research

Almost half of all deaths on farms could be prevented, simply by implementing solutions we already know about, according to new research exploring what’s stopping primary producers from improving their safety practices.

Focus groups were run with farmers, growers, pastoralists and fishers, along with a desktop audit of peer reviewed research. Funded by the Primary Industries Health and Safety Partnership, the study will guide efforts over coming years to improve the uptake of Work Health and Safety (WHS) initiatives.

Study author, Richard Franklin of James Cook University, says the rates of death and injury on farms and fishing vessels have improved, but are still unacceptable.

Financial compensation for landholders affected by coal seam gas exploration and production was the focus of a public forum convened by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) in Narrabri on Tuesday.

IPART has been commissioned by the NSW Government to make recomendations on draft compensation models as part of the Gas Plan for the state.

The forum, led by IPART chair Dr Peter Boxall AO, was gathering feedback to help inform its report and final recommendations to the Minister for Industry, Resources and Energy Mr Roberts by the end of November.